Indications that maternal coxsackie B virus infection during pregnancy is a risk factor for childhood-onset IDDM

Diabetologia. 1995 Nov;38(11):1371-3. doi: 10.1007/BF00401772.

Abstract

In a population-based setting, we traced serum samples collected at time of birth from 55 mothers whose children later developed insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and matched them pairwise to control subjects who gave birth at the same hospital during the same month. The sera were analysed for IgM antibodies to coxsackie B virus serotypes 2, 3 and 4 (CBV-2, 3 and 4) using a type-specific mu-antibody-capture radioimmunoassay. Despite a decreased power due to the close matching by time of birth we found a significantly higher frequency of CBV-3 IgM at delivery in mothers whose children later became diabetic compared to their matched control subjects. When using the presence of CBV-3 IgM as a risk factor the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio estimate (95% confidence limits) was 2.57 (1.02; 7.31), p = 0.043. For CBV-2 and CBV-4, respectively no significant difference was found between mothers of patients and control subjects. According to the odds ratio estimate for CBV-3 and the proportion of exposed mothers among patients estimated in this study the aetiological fraction for this risk determinant would be 27%. In conclusion, this study indicates that children of mothers who expressed CBV IgM at delivery are at increased risk for developing childhood onset IDDM. A fetal infection with CBV similar to rubella virus may initiate autoimmunity or cause persistent infection that may lead to progressive beta-cell destruction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coxsackievirus Infections / complications*
  • Coxsackievirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / etiology*
  • Enterovirus B, Human* / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / diagnosis
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin M